TEACHER'S CORNER: BUSINESS INSTRUCTOR TEACHES SKILLS FOR BOTH CAREER AND PERSONAL LIFE

ORAN -- Eyes and keyboards light up when Oran High School business instructor Patricia Ann Happe teaches.

Happe has been a vocational business instructor at Oran High School for 17 years.

"I decided to become a vocational business teacher because I wanted to teach skills and information that graduates could use in their personal lives and careers," Happe said.

And she has succeeded.

"The most satisfying things about being a teacher are seeing the light in students' eyes when they understand what you are teaching, and successful graduates that return to tell you they used everything they learned in business courses."

During her years as a teacher, she has seen many changes in the business technology available to students.

"The rapid changes in technology challenge business instructors to provide training that students can use in today's business world," she said.

Oran High School offers computers, laser printers, and software to students. Workstations are supplied with 32 IBM-compatible computers, word-processing, accounting and calculator programs and Missouri View, a career information program.

In the future, the school plans to purchase two fax modems and two CD-ROMS, as well as connecting to Internet, an information system.

Happe said students, staff, administration and the community are proud of the business education facilities.

"The vocational business curriculum is designed to give the students the opportunity to focus on special-interest areas and advance to higher levels of study," Happe said. "This is accomplished in two ways: Students are allowed to select from several options what they study and students may take independent studies with teacher supervision in computer application and advanced accounting."

Happe graduated magna cum laude from Southeast Missouri State University in 1978. She studied business education and minored in social studies. She earned her master's degree in business education in 1984 from the university.

Her professional organizations include a 15-year membership in the American Vocational Association, 17-year memberships in Missouri Vocational Association, Missouri Business Education Association, Missouri State Teacher's Association and Oran Community Teachers Association. She has chaired several CTA committees and served as treasurer for two years. She is also the Oran FBLA adviser and was a class sponsor for eight years.